The competitions are open to the public because all performances are unique and very entertaining, but above all, crowd participation is encouraged!

Participating groups arrive in Lubbock from Hobbs & Albuquerque, NM, and others from cities within Texas. The crowd's energy will help fuel the groups' entire performance; although, technique and skill is the ultimate judge. Three qualified Maestros (master teachers) will score all participating groups and hold the final tally until Saturday night where VAF will crown, 'Best of Festival!'

Following the day's competitions, Saturday evening at 7 p.m., VAF will feature a spectacular performance by the previous year's 'Best of Festival' winner, Austin High's Ballet Folklorico, along with a special guest from Veracruz, Mexico, harpist Salvador Peña Herrera. The evening will end with an explosive concert featuring Mariachi Azteca de America from San Antonio, TX. The Mariachi have been back to back winners of the Houston Rodeo Mariachi Competition. The evening represents what this Festival embraces which is to continue to educate the community about the richness of the Mexican Mestizo culture through music and dance.

The festival is open to the public. Pre-Sale tickets for Saturday all day is $15 and for evening only is $10 available to purchase online www.vivaaztlan.org. Last day to purchase pre-sale tickets is Thursday, March 9 at midnight. Tickets purchased at the door for Saturday evening only are $15. Exact cash purchases can be bought in person at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1120 52nd Street, during business hours.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File). FILE - In this March 15, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump talks with reporters during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Trump is questioning the impartiality of Robert Mueller's investig...

The president has long been frustrated by the lengthy and intensifying probe and insists his 2016 presidential campaign did not collude with Russia to influence the election in his favor.

The president has long been frustrated by the lengthy and intensifying probe and insists his 2016 presidential campaign did not collude with Russia to influence the election in his favor.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents work the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs detonat...

Officials reported that an explosion in southwest Austin injured two men in their 20s who were hospitalized with injuries that didn't appear to be life-threatening.

Officials reported that an explosion in southwest Austin injured two men in their 20s who were hospitalized with injuries that didn't appear to be life-threatening.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File). FILE - This Monday, June 19, 2017, file photo shows a user signing in to Facebook on an iPad, in North Andover, Mass. Facebook has a problem it just can’t kick: People keep exploiting it in ways that could sway election...

News reports that Facebook let the Trump-affiliated data mining firm Cambridge Analytica abscond with data from tens of millions of users mark the third time in roughly a year the company appears to have been outfoxed in this way.

News reports that Facebook let the Trump-affiliated data mining firm Cambridge Analytica abscond with data from tens of millions of users mark the third time in roughly a year the company appears to have been outfoxed in this way.